In their opening match of the 2024-25 Champions League, Man City and Inter Milan ended in a goalless draw at the Etihad Stadium.
Entering the match, Pep Guardiola’s side aimed for their sixth consecutive victory across all competitions this season, fielding a strong lineup featuring Erling Haaland, who had scored nine goals in his first four Premier League games. However, they struggled to break down Inter‘s defense.
The first half was evenly contested, with Inter registering 10 shots to Man City’s 9, but both teams managed only two shots on target in a lively 45 minutes.
Kevin De Bruyne posed the biggest threat for Man City, coming close to scoring on two occasions. Just before halftime, Carlos Augusto forced home goalkeeper Ederson into a fine save with a powerful effort.
Unfortunately for City, De Bruyne had to be substituted at halftime due to injury, raising concerns for Guardiola ahead of their crucial Premier League clash against Arsenal this weekend.
In the second half, Man City improved significantly, finishing the match with 22 shots, including late chances for Ilkay Gundogan, but they still couldn’t find the net.
KEY MOMENT
In the dying moments, Gundogan had a golden opportunity to secure victory with a header from a Jeremy Doku cross, but the ball went over the crossbar—what a missed chance!
MAN OF THE MATCH – JOSKO GVARDIOL
It was not a night for the attacking players to shine, making it no surprise that a defender was named Man of the Match. Josko Gvardiol deserved the honor, ending the game with a passing accuracy of 96%, showcasing his quality on the ball. Defensively, Gvardiol was key in thwarting Inter’s attacks, standing out with his robust tackles and aerial duels.
MATCH STATISTICS
- Possession: Man City 63% – 37% Inter Milan
- Total Shots: Man City 22 – 13 Inter Milan
- Shots on Target: Man City 5 – 3 Inter Milan
- Corners: Man City 4 – 3 Inter Milan
- Fouls: Man City 12 – 9 Inter Milan
NEXT MATCH
Man City will look to return to winning ways as they host Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, though they may be without De Bruyne. Meanwhile, Inter prepares for a Milan derby against AC Milan in Serie A, boosted by their strong performance in Manchester.